Insights From A Scientific Study Of The Bhadra Resettlement

Relocation, resettlement and displacement of people have been carried out for several reasons in India and the history of such efforts goes back forty years. In India it is estimated that resettlement for conservation is a small fraction (less than one percent) of the more than sixty million people relocated for other reasons. The nature of these efforts has ranged from forcible eviction to voluntary relocation and they have ranged from abject failure to mixed success.

Relocation and resettlement of people from protected areas remains a controversial issue in the conservation community. A study by Krithi K. Karanth published in the journal Biological Conservation (2007), based on a survey of 419 resettled families, examines resettlement from Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve, documenting the process, its opportunities and challenges.

Study area

Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve located in Karnataka’s Western Ghats.

Methodology

Surveys of 61% of households were conducted in 2002 during relocation and 55% of households in 2006 after relocation from 11 villages.

Results

Prior to Relocation

People faced intense conflicts such as livestock predation, crop raiding and occasional death/ and injury to people. Livestock predation led to losses of 12% and crop losses were 15% annually.

People lacked basic facilities such as no electricity and running water, poor school, medical and transportation facilities.

Relocation Timeline and Events

In the 1970s people in some villages requested the Karnataka governments help to relocate and settle outside.

Karnataka government proposes resettlement project in 1974.

Government surveys carried out in 1987-1992 to identify eligible households.

Karnataka government releases funds in 1996 and additional funding requested from the Central government.

One village files court case in 1999 against resettlement and case is dismissed in 2001.

Ungulate densities of species such as chital have already quadrupled inside the park and densities of other prey are expected to follow suit with adequate protection.

Resettlement in India: Beyond Bhadra

Overall approval for the project in 2002 was 71% and this decreased to 52% in 2006. The potential reasons for this include missing households during the time of the second survey, people in Kelaguru taking longer to re-establish themselves, and
Inability of one question on satisfaction to capture all the positive aspects of this effort.

Reasons for success include no forcible eviction of people and consensus building due to the active involvement of local NGOs, forest and revenue departments in the planning and execution of the project. Other reasons include equitable land tenure, fertile land and good facilities provided. People were actively consulted about their needs and several facilities were provided (water, electricity, schools, health care etc). The involvement of local NGOs was critical to ensuring that the governmental agencies delivered on their promises. Culturally people were non-tribal groups and recent migrants who were able to adapt quickly to their new environment.

In 2005 following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force report, conservation resettlement has emerged a major policy initiative of the Indian government. There is now a major central government initiated effort along with the introduction of a substantial financial package (Rs 10 lakh per household) to relocate and resettle thousands of families from several protected areas across India particularly tiger reserves and critical wildlife habitats. These new efforts will affect tens of thousands of people. Therefore, there is urgent need to examine and assess if and when resettlement should be done, who should be involved, and how should it be implemented. The success in Bhadra is often cited as an “exception” and different from all other resettlement efforts (Gir, Kanha, Kuno, Sariska) in India. However, this need not be the case.

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We define conservation as knowledge-driven actions that lead to the effective management and recovery of wildlife. That means giving priority to meeting the ecological needs of wildlife populations in decline, and to the recovery and expansion of their habitats.
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About Conservation India

CI is a non-profit, non-commercial portal that aims to facilitate wildlife and nature conservation by providing reliable information and the tools needed to campaign effectively.

We define conservation as knowledge-driven actions that lead to the effective management and recovery of wildlife. That means giving priority to meeting the ecological needs of wildlife populations in decline, and to the recovery and expansion of their habitats.
Read more »